Star Wars Battlefront is a video game created by DICE, which is a game development studio owned by Electronic Arts. This game represents DICE's interpretation of the gameplay style found in the initial two Battlefront games, originally launched in 2004 and 2005.
Brought to you by the creators of Battlefield, Star Wars™_ Battlefront_™_ offers the most immersive Star Wars combat experience imaginable. Engage in massive Star Wars conflicts on well-known planets and advance through the ranks as either the courageous Rebellion or the sinister Galactic Empire.
In contrast to its predecessors, this Battlefront game does not present an original narrative. Instead, it provides a reimagining of the stories and battles showcased in the original trilogy, along with some combat scenarios featured in the Battlefront: Twilight Company novel, for example, the Siege of Inyusu Tor. Players can freely switch between first-person and third-person perspectives, a feature familiar from earlier games in the series. Eschewing a traditional single-player campaign, the game offers a collection of co-op missions, playable solo, online, or offline with split-screen functionality. Gamers can assume the roles of iconic heroes and villains like Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. Each player is paired with a partner, enabling the duo to spawn on each other and share customized loadouts. DICE developed the game's AI based on behaviors seen in the Star Wars films, but modified it for improved accessibility. The game does not implement character classes, allowing players to freely personalize their weapons, characters, Star Cards, hands, and traits. During the initial game installation, players can engage in a mini-game while the game loads. In this mini-game, players control Darth Vader and confront waves of Rebel troopers within Echo Base, similar to the Hero Battles single-player mode.
- Missions (Encompassing various single-player/co-op game modes) Battles Hero Battles Survival Training
- Skirmish (Offline game modes) Walker Assault Fighter Squadron
- Multiplayer Battle Station (Death Star DLC) Blast Cargo Drop Zone Droid Run Extraction (Outer Rim DLC)[16] Fighter Squadron[17] Heroes vs Villains Hero Hunt Infiltration (Rogue One: Scarif DLC) Sabotage (Bespin DLC) Supremacy Turning Point[18] Walker Assault
Unlike DICE's previous titles, Battlefront does not utilize the Battlelog system for player connections. Instead, a completely new system was developed and integrated as an in-game menu.
In January 2016, an update introduced features like private matches and limited-time Community Events, encouraging active player participation. This update also included adjustments to multiplayer balance.
The three most expansive game modes, Walker Assault, Supremacy, and Turning Point, accommodate 40 players (20 per team) in a single match. Other game modes feature smaller player counts. Additional multiplayer modes include Fighter Squadron, Blast, Drop Zone, Cargo, and Droid Run.
Blast is a standard Team Deathmatch mode, featuring 10 players on each team. Dennis Brännvall, the Lead Level Designer, stated that matches have a 10-minute time limit or a 100-kill target, and players cannot play as Heroes or Villains in this mode.
Cargo is a rendition of the classic Capture the Flag game mode. Each team has a base containing their captured cargo. Teams must infiltrate the enemy base, retrieve their cargo, and return it to their own base while defending their base. Capturing enemy cargo does not require having cargo in your own base, creating a "tug of war" dynamic.
In Droid Run, three GNK-series power droids wander the map. In smaller maps with six players per team, players must locate, pursue, and capture the droids, then defend them for their team.
Drop Zone is inspired by King of the Hill. Players must control the landing sites of drop pods as they descend. The first team to secure five pods, or the team with the most controlled pods after 10 minutes, wins.
Fighter Squadron allows players to pilot various ships from the Star Wars universe. Each team consists of 10 players, supported by AI teammates. Additionally, each team has a transport or shuttle attempting to cross the map safely. The opposing team tries to destroy this transport before it escapes. Players can also collect hero pickups, allowing them to play as the Millennium Falcon, Slave I, Red Five, or Vader's TIE Advanced.
In Heroes vs Villains, each team consists of 6 players. Three players begin as heroes or villains, while the other three play as troopers. If a hero or villain is defeated, they respawn as a regular trooper. The objective is to eliminate the opposing team's hero characters.
Hero Hunt places one hero or villain, depending on the map, against seven soldiers from the opposing side. The goal is to defeat the hero or villain; the player who defeats them then becomes the new hero or villain. The hero or villain's objective is to eliminate the seven opposing soldiers while staying alive.
Supremacy, based on the classic Conquest mode, is a 10-minute match featuring five control points for teams to capture. Each team starts with two points. Points unlock sequentially as they are captured, and the maps are the largest in the game.
Walker Assault draws inspiration from the Rush game mode. Imperial forces attempt to advance their AT-ATs to the end of the map to destroy a Rebel transport or base. In three phases, Rebel forces must activate two uplinks to summon Y-wing bombers to attack the AT-ATs and prevent them from reaching their target. Imperial forces must keep the uplinks offline to prevent this. Only the Imperial faction can use ground vehicles in this mode, including AT-ATs and AT-STs. AT-STs are smaller, two-legged versions of AT-ATs with less health. In this mode, AT-ATs are called Imperial Walkers, while AT-STs are called Scout Transports. Players can use Scout Transports until they are destroyed, while AT-AT pilots have a limited time, extendable by earning kills in the walker. The orbital strike ability can be used inside the Imperial Walker to clear the area of Rebel ground forces.
Turning Point, introduced in the free Battle of Jakku DLC, is a large-scale mode with up to 40 players. Imperial forces control three points that Rebel forces try to capture. The Empire controls a large base on the map's outskirts, which is the main target for the Rebels.
Extraction, featured in the Outer Rim DLC, is a multiplayer mode where Rebel forces enter the Outer Rim to extract a shipment and must return to the transport before time runs out or the Empire intervenes.
Sabotage, in the Bespin DLC, is a two-part multiplayer mode. The Empire uses Tibanna Gas Generators to power tractor beams that prevent Rebel transports from escaping Cloud City. The Rebels must destroy the generators and then defend their extraction point. The Empire must stop the Rebels and hunt them down.
Battle Station, in the Death Star DLC, is a three-phase multiplayer mode that begins in space with the Rebels trying to destroy a Star Destroyer, moves inside the station to extract a droid, and culminates in a recreation of the Battle of Yavin, featuring Red 5 and Darth Vader's TIE Fighter.
Single-player and co-op gameplay is available through a series of game modes known as Missions. These include Survival, Battles, Hero Battles, and Trials. Survival is exclusive to Rebel players, while other modes allow players to choose either side.
In Survival, players (alone or with a partner) must defend against 15 increasingly difficult waves of Imperial forces. Drop pods appear throughout the mission, offering power-ups when captured. This Mission is only playable as a Rebel trooper.
Training includes five Missions designed to familiarize players with the gameplay and mechanics. Players can play as either Rebel troopers or Imperial Stormtroopers, depending on the Mission. The Probe Droid tutorial introduces Star Cards, weapons, and "blowing up Imperial hardware." The Beggar's Canyon mission allows players to pilot X-wings over Tatooine, fighting enemy TIE fighters. Invasion is similar, but players pilot Snowspeeders on Hoth. In Overpower, players control an Imperial soldier piloting an AT-ST. In Endor Chase, players chase Rebel troopers who have stolen speeder bikes. Finally, in The Dark Side, players play as Darth Vader attacking a Rebel base on Hoth. With a partner, the second player controls Emperor Palpatine.
Battles pits players against enemy AI in a deathmatch scenario. Playing with a partner allows for one-on-one battles against each other, with or without AI support. The goal is to reach 100 points, earned by picking up tokens dropped by defeated enemies. Hero Battles is similar, but players control heroes or villains instead of regular soldiers. A team can have up to 5 AI allies, while the opposing team can have 14 AI enemies.
Skirmish was added on July 21, 2016. Inspired by the instant action mode from the original Star Wars: Battlefront games, Skirmish allows players to play Walker Assault and Fighter Squadron offline against AI.
EA initially revealed their plans for the game at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) on June 10, 2013. To create a realistic and immersive experience, the DICE team visited the Lucasfilm Archives and filming locations. The images were then converted into 3D models using photogrammetry. For sound design, the DICE team collaborated with Lucasfilm, accessing their Star Wars sound library and working with sound designers Ben Burtt and Matthew Wood. Audio Director Ben Minto and his team also recorded sounds in Foley sessions with Dennie Thorpe and Jana Vance, as well as on location. On December 4, 2013, EA announced that DICE projects, including Star Wars: Battlefront, would be delayed until performance issues in Battlefield 4 were resolved. A later announcement clarified that the patch work would not affect upcoming release dates. Executive producer Patrick Bach stated that the team aimed to create a new experience, distinct from DICE's Battlefield series, while maintaining connections to the original Star Wars: Battlefront games, such as the perspective switch.
Senior Producer Sigurlina Ingvarsdottir mentioned that DICE requested to develop the game due to their passion for Star Wars and experience with multiplayer games like Battlefield. They wanted to create a game that allowed fans to immerse themselves in Star Wars fantasies, such as driving an Imperial vehicle or pitting Luke Skywalker against Boba Fett. This process included visiting the Lucasfilm archives.
The game excludes elements from the prequel trilogy to avoid "violating canon."
A campaign was initially planned but was cut to ensure the game's release coincided with Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens.
The game became available through EA Access in December 2016.
Gordy Haab composed and orchestrated the game's soundtrack. The music was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and London Voices, and was recorded at Abbey Road Studios. John Williams' music from the Star Wars saga was also incorporated.
On March 19, 2015, EA announced that the game would debut at Celebration Anaheim in April 2015. EA stated that they "could not think of a better or more appropriate place to debut the game officially for the first time than the premier event that celebrates the Star Wars universe and the legions of fans who have fallen in love with it." Shortly after, EA announced that the first gameplay footage would be shown at E3 2015.
Beta testing was available from October 8 to October 12, allowing players to access Walker Assault (Hoth), Drop Zone (Sullust), and Survival Mission (Tatooine). On October 12, the Beta was extended to October 13. The beta reportedly attracted nine million participants.
Four versions of the game were launched:
- Standard edition [54]
- Deluxe edition (including digital exclusives) [54]
- Darth Vader-themed PlayStation 4 bundle; [55] Lucasfilm and Sony distributed some via a Twitter sweepstakes. [56]
- Ultimate Edition (including Season Pass) [52]
Wal Mart offered an exclusive bundle with the Deluxe Edition and a mini-refrigerator styled after Han Solo in carbonite.
A Battlefront companion app was released on the Apple App Store and Google Play. It features the mini-game "Base Command," which can be used to earn credits for unlocking Battlefront content. The app was initially available during the October 2015 beta test.
On October 12, 2015, EA announced four expansion packs for the game, with a $50 Season Pass providing access to all expansions and early access to each.
On January 26, 2016, EA revealed their plans for free expansions and paid DLC packs.
On April 17, 2015, EA announced the first downloadable content for Star Wars Battlefront, called Star Wars Battlefront: Battle of Jakku. It was released for free on December 8, 2015, about a week before the global release of The Force Awakens. Players who pre-ordered Battlefront could play the DLC from December 1, 2015, a week earlier than others.
This expansion pack launched on March 22, 2016, for Season Pass holders. It allows players to fight in Jabba's Palace and the factories of Sullust. The mode introduces a new "Extraction" game mode, new star cards and weapons, and two new heroes and villains: Nien Nunb and Greedo. The pack also grants access to Hutt Contracts, which unlock new equipment upon completing challenges.
This expansion pack was released on June 21, 2016. It offers five new maps set in and around the Cloud City of Bespin, supporting various modes. It also includes new Star Cards and a new multiplayer mode called Sabotage. The DLC also allows players to control the Heroes Lando Calrissian and Dengar.
This expansion pack introduces the Death Star and was released on September 20, 2016, for Season Pass holders. A teaser released on July 16 showed vehicular combat above and around the Death Star, as well as multiple capital ships. It was confirmed that Chewbacca and Bossk would be the heroes for the expansion.
This expansion pack features maps set on Scarif, a tropical planet from the Anthology film, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The heroes for this DLC are Jyn Erso and Orson Krennic. It was released on December 6, 2016, for Season Pass holders.
This free add-on adds a virtual reality mission to the game, exclusive to Playstation VR. It was released around Christmas 2016. DICE and Criterion Studios developed the experience, which was announced at E3 2016. Criterion Studios integrated the game with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story after collaborating with Lucasfilm.
The novel Battlefront: Twilight Company tells a story set after the events of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. Turtle Beach sold a Battlefront-themed Sandtrooper headset exclusively at Best Buy. Prima Games released a Star Wars Battlefront Strategy Guide in softcover, hardcover Collector's Edition, and eGuide formats.